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Labor Delegation May Inspect Working Conditions in China
In the wake of the Bush administration's refusal to act on an AFL-CIO petition aimed at protecting both American and Chinese workers, federation President John Sweeney in May accepted an invitation from China's vice premier for a labor delegation to travel to China to examine working conditions.
"I would request that in addition to meeting with you and other government officials, our delegation be given the same freedom of movement in China afforded the numerous delegations from China that visit the United States each year," Sweeney said in his letter to Vice Premier Wu Yi.
The trip could take place as early as August, if the Chinese government meets Sweeney's requests. He also asked that the delegation be allowed to "develop our own itinerary, make our own travel arrangements, and bring our own interpreters."
Wu Yi extended the invitation in April at a Washington news conference during trade talks with the Bush administration. In response to a reporter's question about the petition, which details the Chinese government's widespread and brutal repression of workers' rights, Wu called the charges "groundless."
The 103-page petition, filed with the U.S. Trade Representative in March, charged that China's abuses have given the country an unfair trade advantage leading to the loss of more than 727,000 American jobs. It called on Bush to impose trade remedies against China until the government recognizes workers' rights and improves working conditions. The administration summarily rejected the petition in April.
"President Bush's refusal to act means that more Americans will lose their jobs to the virtual slave labor market that is China," CWA President Morton Bahr said. "Once again, he has demonstrated his contempt for workers, here and around the world. Ensuring that the working class is voiceless and powerless is how this administration and its corporate allies derive their power."
The petition documents China's forced labor, unsafe working conditions and refusal to let workers form independent unions.
The result is that Chinese workers' wages are 47 percent to 86 percent lower than they should be, which in turn reduces the price of Chinese manufactured goods by 11 percent to 44 percent.
Senator John Kerry said rejecting the petition is one more example of Bush's grossly imbalanced trade policy. "This administration has once again refused to make any serious effort to use the legitimate rules that govern trade to level the playing field and prevent our businesses and workers from being taken to the cleaners," he said.
"I would request that in addition to meeting with you and other government officials, our delegation be given the same freedom of movement in China afforded the numerous delegations from China that visit the United States each year," Sweeney said in his letter to Vice Premier Wu Yi.
The trip could take place as early as August, if the Chinese government meets Sweeney's requests. He also asked that the delegation be allowed to "develop our own itinerary, make our own travel arrangements, and bring our own interpreters."
Wu Yi extended the invitation in April at a Washington news conference during trade talks with the Bush administration. In response to a reporter's question about the petition, which details the Chinese government's widespread and brutal repression of workers' rights, Wu called the charges "groundless."
The 103-page petition, filed with the U.S. Trade Representative in March, charged that China's abuses have given the country an unfair trade advantage leading to the loss of more than 727,000 American jobs. It called on Bush to impose trade remedies against China until the government recognizes workers' rights and improves working conditions. The administration summarily rejected the petition in April.
"President Bush's refusal to act means that more Americans will lose their jobs to the virtual slave labor market that is China," CWA President Morton Bahr said. "Once again, he has demonstrated his contempt for workers, here and around the world. Ensuring that the working class is voiceless and powerless is how this administration and its corporate allies derive their power."
The petition documents China's forced labor, unsafe working conditions and refusal to let workers form independent unions.
The result is that Chinese workers' wages are 47 percent to 86 percent lower than they should be, which in turn reduces the price of Chinese manufactured goods by 11 percent to 44 percent.
Senator John Kerry said rejecting the petition is one more example of Bush's grossly imbalanced trade policy. "This administration has once again refused to make any serious effort to use the legitimate rules that govern trade to level the playing field and prevent our businesses and workers from being taken to the cleaners," he said.